Ditching-machine



,(No M 0de1.) a Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. T. FITZPATRIGK.

DITGHING MAGHINE. No. 291.043. PatentedJan. 1, 1884.

Ill

l v p :J r WTNESSES ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. PITZPATRICK.

DIVTGHINGMAGHINB. Patented Jan. 1, 1884.

' ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) I 3 SheetsSheet 3.

J. T.- FITZPATRIGK.

DITGHING MACHINE.

No. 291,043. Patented Jan; 1, 1 884;

ATTORNEY U TE STATES -PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. FITZPATRIOK, OF MONTIOELLO, OHIO.

DITCHllNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,043, dated January 1, K84.

.' r Application filed Srptemher 5,1383. No model.) I

To all whom it may: concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. FITZPAIRIOK, acitizen of the United States, residing at Monticello, county of Van Wert, an d State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a description of the same, and of the manner of constructing and using the invention, in such clear, full, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it appertains to construct and use the same, reference being .had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained, and the best mode in which I have. contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is adetailview representing the drivinggear parts in inner side elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the divided axleand clampingboxes. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the. scoop, the frame-work of the elevating-apron, the endless chains to which the slats of the apron are connected, and the shaft which drives said apron.

The main supporting frame-work is composed of two parallel beams, A, at a suitable distance from each other, and connected by cross-bars B.

thrown .in and-out of gear with thetruckwheel 0. O is the right-hand truck-wheel.

The crank-axle is composed of two half parts, D and D, jointed, and adapted to allow each half to turn separately from the other when.

desirable. The abutting ends of the crankaxle are secured at their j oint to the main framework by means of box e, that fastens them to the cross-bar D. Each of the joining ends of the two-part axle is provided with acylindrical head, 0 Said heads fit in transverse slot 6 formed in the center of the .box 6. The clamping-boxes e also fasten the axle to the cross-bar D. These clamping-boxes allow the axle to turn in them freely. The boxes 6 0 may be used as single or double boxes, the drawings illustrating the form of the1n,whether applied to both upper and under sides of the axle, or only to the under side. 7

Depending from the main supporting framework at its forward end are fourbraces, E, which converge at their lower ends, and carry a pioneer shovel-plow, F, riveted to them. The object'of this plow is to level surface inequalities in the line of the proposed ditch, and when not needed for this purpose it may be removed by the withdrawing of the bolts that fasten the supporting-braces E at their tops to the main frame.

Immediately back of the plow is the wheel G, designed to maintain the machine at the proper depth. This wheel is suspended by four braces, I-I, having their upper extremities connected to the main frame in any suitable manner adapted to permit said rods to be adjusted so as to cause the holes h in the front and rear sets to register for insertion of the axle-pin of wheel G,whereby the latter may be maintained at the desired vertical adjustment.

' Immediately in rear of the wheel, an d located in alower plane, is the scoop I, adapted to take up the mud or dirt as the machine moves, and to deliver it on the endless apron J. The frame-work of this apron J is bolted rigidly at the lower extremity to the rear end of the scoop I..

K K are-two upright cutters, secured respectively to the oppositelower corners of the scoop I by bolts. shank, K,.formed in same piece therewith, and extending forward and upward to the main frame,where it is secured to the said frame by aclamp, a. At the point where each cutter connects with its shank there is a bend or crook inward, k", adapted to prevent the shank from Each cutter is provided with a striking against the sides of the ditch. The upper face of the scoop is provided withadirt- 3 breaker, f, located on its forward central portion. This dirt-breaker is adapted to keep said brace extends rearwardly and upwardly, and is secured at its rear extremity to a depending staff, V. From this point of attachment two braces, g, extend forwardly and upwardly to the side pieces, A, of the main frame.

The endless apron J' revolves on the revolving shaft L, and is provided with adjusting devices adapted to tighten it and the sprocketehain N. This apron is furnished with sheetiron sidings s, to confine laterally the dirt as it is transported to the diseharging-apron M. The discharging -apron M is located trans versely to the main body of the machine in rear of the elevating-apron J, and below its upper extremity, and is supported on the main frame-work. Adjusting devices are adapted to tighten said apron M. Said apron has asheet-iron guard, 15, on its rear side adapted to prevent the dirt from falling over its rear side into the ditch." The apron M projects suflicicntly out on the right hand from the side of the machine to discharge the dirt clear of the ditch. Said apron turns on rollers t and t at its extremities. The shaft of the driving-rollers i is provided with the bevel-wheel N, that meshes in with the bevel-wheel O.

The bevel-wheel O and sprocket-wheel P are both fast to the shaft L. The sprocketwheel P is driven by an endless chain, l\"-, that connects it with the sprocket-wheel It. The sprocket wheel R turns on the spindle (I. The cog-wheel S is rigid with the sprocketwheel It and meshes in with the drivingwheel E, the driving wheel being revolved by the truck-wheel 0 when locked iirwith said wheel by the ratchet-wheel A and the pawls h. At the rear end of the machine is a shoe, T, connected to the depending stand ard V by a set-screw, 1*, adapted to maintain it at any desired height thereon. The shoe is adapted to carry the rear end of the machine at any desired height.

X is the seat for the driver of the machine.

Y is a hand-lever, rigid at its lower end in a shaft, j, and adapted to be operated by the driver for the purpose of raising or lowering the body of the machine. The shaft 7' has bearing on the two longitudinal beams of the main frame. The hand-lever Y being drawn toward the driver turns the shaft 7', which carries the cog-wheel 2 that is rigid with it. The catch 'Z is adapted to engage with this cog-wheel and to maintain the shaft j against reverse revolution. The shaft j is wrapped by two chains, it, each of which passes down under the main frame and hooks into an arm, Z, respectively on each side of the machine,

said arm being secured to the corresponding axle part at or near the junction of the crank portion with the axlespindle.

Secured to the under face of each of the main frame-pieces A. are pulleys Z, under which run the chains that hook into the leverarms Z. Normally the upper extremities of said lever-arms are above the horizontal plane of the pulleys, and are adapted to be pulled downward by the operatingchains. These arms Z are provided each with two braces, m and m, each brace m being secured to the corresponding crank portion of the axle, about midway between the body of the axle and the axle-spindle, each brace m being secured to the corresponding axle-spindle near its junction with the crank portion. This combination of hand-lever Y, revolving shaftj, cogwheel a, chains k, arms Z, pulleys Z, and braces m and m is adapted to adjust the crank-axle I) I) more or less vertically over the hubline of the truck-wheeis G 0, thereby raising or lowering the body of the machine.

X is the traction-tongue of the machine with yoke and whiflletrees. Across the hub of the tongue is the stiffener 0, which is held by staple-hooks f. This stiffener 0 is adapted to hold the tongue stifiiy horizontal when the machine is not in use in the ditch.

What I claim is 1.. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with plow I and converging rods E, of wheel G, converging rods H, rear shoe, T, and standard V, substantially as set forth.

2. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with axle part I), having truck wheel 0 mounted thereon, of axle pa-rt D, having truclcwheel O mounted thereon, said axle part D being provided with spindle d, having wheels It and S mounted thereon, substantially as set forth.

3. In a ditchingmaehinc, the combination, with a crank-axle provided with arms I, of braces in and m, substantially as set forth.

4. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with oscillating crank-axle D D, of hand-lever Y, revolving shaft j, cog-wheel z, chains Zr, arms 7, pulleys Z, and braces in in, substantially as set forth.

5. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with scoop I and brace 0, of depending standard V, shoe T, and adjusting device 1*, substantially as set forth.

6. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with axle part D", provided with spindle (Z, of wheels R and S, mounted on said spindle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing to be my invention I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of August, A. D. 1883.

JOHN T. FITZPATRICK.

\Vi tnesses:

A. FRYER, J. N. Bunn 

